The Ultimate Hiking Trip Packing List

All the expert-recommended gear you'll need on the trail.

Planning your gear for a hiking trip amps up anticipation in the best way. Whether you’re heading out on a front-country camping expedition or aiming for base camp in an RV or hotel, your on-trail clothes, food, and gear will be front and center of your journey.

We have so much useful, comfortable, and just plain fun gear that it was hard to narrow it down to our favorites, but from a tried-and-true cooling shirt to a small-but-mighty battery pack, this list of hiking trip necessities will get you from car to trailhead and back again.

Remember that planning a hiking trip means being flexible. Hailey Hosken, a year-round hiker from Alaska, has experienced plenty of unexpected turns and always prepares accordingly. “Sometimes the best part of a hiking trip are the surprise trails you wind up on because your original plan didn’t pan out,” she says. If you follow our checklist, you'll be ready to enjoy everything that comes your way.

Continue reading the full article, written by Maggie Slepian here.